A child sexual abuse charge is among the worse criminal charges to exist. Being charged with a sex crime such as child sexual abuse can alienate you as a human being. You can face disownment and societal rejection. Obtaining an experienced child sexual abuse lawyer is the most important thing when beginning the preparation of your child abuse defense. A lawyer experienced in child sexual abuse defense can assist you in piecing the broken pieces of your life back together. With the right legal counsel, you can fight the sexual abuse accusation and hopefully gain the trust of your family and friends again.
If you are a suspect of child sexual abuse in the state of Texas, the time to act is now. You can meet with The Gonzalez Law Group to do an overview of your case and begin the process to represent you in court right away. Contact The Gonzalez Law Group at (832) 530-4070 for a free consultation today. They cover cases in the greater Houston area including Houston, Friendswood, Baytown, Pearland, La Porte, and many other cities.
Overview of Child Sexual Abuse
What is Considered Child Sex Abuse?
Child sexual abuse is not a crime specified under the Texas penal code. Instead, we have an overview of adult sex crimes that also applies to children. However, there are exceptions in which we see that the sex crime is only considered a sex crime because it involves a child. For example, any type of sexual act involving a child is considered child sexual abuse. An individual can also be charged with child sexual abuse if they are in a romantic relationship with a minor or possess child pornography. There is a statute under Texan law specifically designed for the continuous sexual abuse of a child. This crime is listed when two or more of these crimes occurred within 30 days.
The most common types of child sexual abuse cases are the following:
- Aggravated Sexual Assault (against a child under the age of 17)
- Child Pornography (creation/manufacturing/distribution)
- Indecency with a Child (under the age of 17)
- Trafficking of a Child (intent to sexually exploit child under the age of 17)
- Aggravated Kidnapping (with intent to sexually assault or exploit a child under the age of 17)
What Are the Penalties?
The penalties for child sexual abuse can vary by case. Most of these penalties are usually stronger than other sex crimes. Depending on the nature of the accusation, the potential punishment for child sexual abuse are the following:
- First Degree Felony — Life imprisonment, or 5-99 years in prison plus a fine up to $10,000.
- Aggravated Sexual Assault
- Aggravated Kidnapping
- Trafficking of a Child
- Sexual Performance by a Child (If under 14 years of age)
- Second Degree Felony— 2-20 years in prison plus a fine up to $10,000
- Indecency with a Child (determined case by case)
- Possession of Child Pornography (With intent to distribute)
- Sexual Performance by a Child (Between ages 14-17)
- Third Degree Felony — 2-10 years in prison plus a fine up to $10,000
- Indecency with a Child (determined case by case)
- Possession of Child Pornography
If you are accused of a child sexual abuse crime in the state of Texas, the first plan of action must be to obtain professional legal assistance. Many of the details surrounding child sexual abuse laws under the Texas legal code can be challenging to understand. Without a proper understanding of the law, deriving the exact reasoning behind the specific charge you are facing can be overly complicated.
Defending yourself can also be difficult without legal representation. Child sexual abuse cases are taken extremely seriously by the state of Texas, and prosecutors will fight tooth and nail to convict you. The only way to fight back is to possess the kind of legal assistance.
Additional Resources
Texas Statutes – This is the official website that houses the statutes of the Texas penal code. Using this link, you can find the actual written law that relates to your case. You can read the regulations about crimes to help determine the defense that best suits your situation.
Texas Law Help’s Resources on Sexual Assault – this is an organization that provides answers to the most common questions about Texas laws. The page also has a list of information with helpful definitions about sexual assault and the legal process as a whole.
Contact Gonzalez Law Group
Child sexual abuse cases get tricky. If you are in the middle of a child sexual abuse charge, you need to contact a set of experienced attorneys who’ve dealt with clients with this kind of difficult situation in the past. The Gonzalez Law Group has worked with many cases involving clients who’ve been charged with child sexual abuse.
Our attorneys will sit with you and give you a step by step analysis of your case. They will listen to your concerns and provide honest feedback. Call (832) 530-4070 today to get started.
